Research Information System
DRUGS OF TODAY, vol.32, no.7, pp.573-592, 1996 (SCI-Expanded)
Thrombolytic therapy and neuroprotective therapy are the two most important recent advances in the management of acute ischemic stroke. Thrombolytic therapy is the approach that uses reopening of the occluded vessel to allow for reperfusion. Reperfusion injury and the ischemic injury cascade after acute ischemic stroke should be treated by neuroprotective therapy. Animal experiments have revealed many alternatives that need to be developed for clinical applications. Hopefully, improved clinical outcome of this devastating disease by means of combination therapies guided by developing new imaging technologies will occur soon. This update summarizes recent randomized clinical trials and emphasizes the question oi risk versus benefit for the many acute stroke therapies being developed.